TGIF – Spooling Sessions
Let’s be honest…there are worse ways to kickstart the weekend than with a cold beverage.
And yet, it’s easy to fall into a routine of buying the same couple of beers or spirits at your favorite watering hole or the LCBO. Of course, there’s always going to be your standard go-to’s. But mixing it up (get it…mixing???) makes for a fun outing.
With that in mind, we’re taking a shot (bet you thought we would stop with the drinking puns after that first one) at finding you a weekly selection of spirits to liven up your Friday.
This week why don’t you try…
Spooled Up Session – Barnstormer
A good session with a craft beer should be an experience in flavour, and an introduction to something new.
And this ale from Barnstormer delivers on both counts.
Starting with the appealing appearance: The pour reveals a hazy, golden rich color. Exactly what you want to see from a quality bevy. The initial pour leaves a finger plus of head, that is relatively short lived, but gives way to egg shell white in traces of spotty lacing.
As the session continues, the aroma takes over, in a positive way. The smell has a yeasty quality at first, but it also has a moderate bitter hop note to it. All the typical Belgian notes are there, which gives off a rich aroma of lemon, and moderate sour notes. It’s a subtle but inviting scent that heightens the first few sips.
The taste is an easy grainy flavor initially, backed up by bready traces. There’s a definite starchy hop quality, and earthy tones come to the forefront the longer you drink.
The body and mouthfeel lean to medium-light bodied, with sharp and crisp carbonation. The dry finish edges up against chalkiness, but in a pleasant way.
Overall, this is a beer that comes together nicely and could be considered a slight improvement on the sum of it’s parts. At 4.3 ABV, you can stick with it for most of your sitting without too much of an impact.
If pairing some eats, be sure to get something snacky that won’t overpower the drink. Stick with white/light food, such as fish tacos or lemon chicken.
Find more about Spooled Up Sessions on Barnstomer’s website!
